Parents of students entering the seventh grade encouraged to schedule a well-child visit

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health is encouraging parents of students who will be entering seventh grade this coming school year to schedule a well-child visit as soon as possible. Hawai‘i law requires that all students submit official documentation to their school indicating that they have received the required vaccinations and undergone a physical exam before the first day of school.

“Staying current with immunizations safeguards your child and contributes to overall health in schools by preventing disease outbreaks,” DOH officials said in a news release. Many children have not received vaccines since kindergarten, which means that some of the protection they had when they started school has declined, according to the DOH. “Also, your child is now old enough to receive additional vaccines to prevent other serious diseases.”

Before the first day of the 2024-2025 school year, all seventh grade students must provide official documentation of having received the following vaccines:

• Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis vaccine (Tdap)
• Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV)
• Human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV)

“Parents are encouraged to contact their health care provider to schedule the first HPV vaccination as soon as possible since two doses are needed,” according to the DOH. “Completing the HPV series is important because this vaccine series protects your child against a family of viruses strongly associated with certain types of cancer.”

Children who are new to Hawaiʻi schools must also complete a tuberculosis (TB) clearance form with their health care provider.

Well-child visits enable health care providers to monitor a child’s growth and development while addressing physical activity, nutrition, health concerns and behaviors. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children and youth have a well-child visit with their health care provider at least once a year.

If you need assistance connecting with a health care provider, call Aloha United Way at 211. For more information about Hawai‘i’s school health requirements, visit www.VaxToSchoolHawaii.com.